UCLA wrapped up its third-to-last practice of camp Friday afternoon with a two-hour-and-45-minute workout that was entertaining. It was full pads, and for the first time in a long time, there was live hitting, too.
The notes:
-There wasn't really a big storyline from today. For the most part, the depth chart remained exactly the same. Mo Osling ran with the twos at cornerback -- a reward for his impressive freshman camp. And Boss Tagaloa returned to run with the ones at defensive tackle. Other than that, not much to note in the two-deep:
Offense
QB - Josh Rosen; Devon Modster
RB - Soso Jamabo; Bolu Olorunfunmi
WR - Christian Pabico, Theo Howard and Darren Andrews were the ones
TE - Caleb Wilson; Jordan Wilson/Austin Roberts
LT - Kolton Miller; Kenny Lacy
LG - Najee Toran; Jake Burton
C - Scott Quessenberry; Josh Wariboko
RG - Michael Alves; Poasi Moala
RT - Andre James; Sunny Odogwu
Defense
DE - Jaelan Phillips; Keisean Lucier-South
DT - Matt Dickerson; Osa Odighizuwa
DT - Boss Tagaloa; Nick Terry
DE - Jacob Tuioti-Mariner; Rick Wade
OLB - Kenny Young; Breland Brandt
MLB - Lokeni Toailoa; Mique Juarez
OLB - Josh Woods; Krys Barnes
CB - Darnay Holmes; Denzel Fisher
S - Adarius Pickett; Will Lockett
S - Jaleel Wadood, Octo Spencer
CB - Nate Meadors, Mo Osling
-Stephen Johnson appeared to get injured during 1-on-1s and spent the rest of practice with trainers. Zach Bateman was out in a jersey doing some light work with trainers. Najee Toran needed his back massaged in between drills.
-In probably the most interesting moment of the day, Bolu Olorunfunmi got kicked out of practice by DeShaun Foster. The running back was very upset after being stuffed on the goal line (it sounded like he was hot about a missed blocking assignment in front of him). He sounded off on just about everybody on the sideline, and then Foster sent him to the showers. The rest of the day, it was pretty much the Soso Jamabo show with the ones.
-Devon Modster had a poor practice, which led to probably the other moment of the day. In early 11-on-11 drills, his unit had two false starts and a fumbled snap on around five plays. Jim Mora was not pleased. Then, down at the goal line a drill later, he fumbled another snap. Mora sent both him and center Josh Wariboko to the sideline to work on their snaps while the rest of the team practiced. For five minutes, Hank Fraley and Jedd Fish watched over the two as they snapped.
-The good portion of practice started with work on shedding bubble screen blocks, and there was some popping going on over there. Adarius Pickett and Jordan Lasley got very into it. In fact, Pickett carried that drill over for the next 30 minutes of practice, hitting everything and everyone, even in "thud" only drills. He had had a poor camp up until about Tuesday, but has turned it on these last few days. He recorded a couple notable pass breakups in addition to some big hits in 11-on-11s.
-Nate Starks had probably the run of practice -- which wasn't saying much, this team really hasn't demonstrated that it can run the ball at all through three weeks here -- breaking off a 42-yard touchdown in third-and-1 situations.
-Spoiler alert here: When I do my post-fall camp freshmen rankings, Darnay Holmes is going to be No. 1. I don't think he allowed a single catch in any drill today. And in 1-on-1s, he had two interceptions. When Christian Pabico is on him, like he was today, you don't hear from the walk-on, which has been rare through three weeks of camp so far.
-Jaylan Shaw was also a standout in 1-on-1s, recording a pick and then another nice pass breakup. Holmes, Osling and Shaw, along with Jaelan Phillips, look like the jewels of this incoming class right now.
-Alex Van Dyke had a pair of drops in 1-on-1s. But to his credit, he came back and had a productive 11-on-11 practice.
-Mossi Johnson continues to show up in every drill, despite being buried by an avalanche of defensive backs on this roster. I had him with a few big hits, a tackle for loss that would have ended Matt Lynch's fourth-and-1 efforts, and a pass breakup in 1-on-1s. He's just a good football player.
-Jaleel Wadood recorded an interception off a really bad Modster throw late in 11-on-11s. It's been a stellar camp for just about every DB in the two-deep.
-Darren Andrews had several nice catches over the middle of the field in 11-on-11s. He also had a nice back-shoulder catch in 1-on-1s.
-Theo Howard had probably the play of practice. Running a go route on Nate Meadors, he tracked a deep ball over his shoulder to haul in the Modster throw down the sideline. His teammates were very pleased with the effort.
-UCLA trotted out its formation where Keisean Lucier-South runs as a linebacker in the nickel once again today. He didn't do much, however, when that formation was called.
-Damian Alloway and Jordan Lasley worked as punt returners today. Stefan Flintoft and Austin Kent both finally had good days, booting their two kicks apiece between 50-55 yards with good hangtime.
-Audie Omotosho had a bounce-back practice. He was wearing a different, lighter knee brace today, and that seemed to free him up. He did well against younger corners in 1-on-1s and had a few catches in 11-on-11s as well.
-Stephan Zabie had a welcome to the Pac-12 practice. In 1-on-1s, a walk-on pancaked him for a sack. He had several penalties called on him in 11-on-11s as well.
-JJ Molson had a rougher day kicking the football. I had him at 3-for-6 with makes from 32, 35 and 53 and misses from 39, 53 and 53.
-Jaelan Phillips ended the first-team vs. first-team 11-on-11s with a gorgeous fake inside, go outside move on Kolton Miller to record the would-be sack on Josh Rosen. Phillips has been quiet since his hot first week, but it's pass-rush moves like that that let you know he's going to be a good one for UCLA this year.
UCLA practices next on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. and wraps up the open portion of camp at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday night.
The notes:
-There wasn't really a big storyline from today. For the most part, the depth chart remained exactly the same. Mo Osling ran with the twos at cornerback -- a reward for his impressive freshman camp. And Boss Tagaloa returned to run with the ones at defensive tackle. Other than that, not much to note in the two-deep:
Offense
QB - Josh Rosen; Devon Modster
RB - Soso Jamabo; Bolu Olorunfunmi
WR - Christian Pabico, Theo Howard and Darren Andrews were the ones
TE - Caleb Wilson; Jordan Wilson/Austin Roberts
LT - Kolton Miller; Kenny Lacy
LG - Najee Toran; Jake Burton
C - Scott Quessenberry; Josh Wariboko
RG - Michael Alves; Poasi Moala
RT - Andre James; Sunny Odogwu
Defense
DE - Jaelan Phillips; Keisean Lucier-South
DT - Matt Dickerson; Osa Odighizuwa
DT - Boss Tagaloa; Nick Terry
DE - Jacob Tuioti-Mariner; Rick Wade
OLB - Kenny Young; Breland Brandt
MLB - Lokeni Toailoa; Mique Juarez
OLB - Josh Woods; Krys Barnes
CB - Darnay Holmes; Denzel Fisher
S - Adarius Pickett; Will Lockett
S - Jaleel Wadood, Octo Spencer
CB - Nate Meadors, Mo Osling
-Stephen Johnson appeared to get injured during 1-on-1s and spent the rest of practice with trainers. Zach Bateman was out in a jersey doing some light work with trainers. Najee Toran needed his back massaged in between drills.
-In probably the most interesting moment of the day, Bolu Olorunfunmi got kicked out of practice by DeShaun Foster. The running back was very upset after being stuffed on the goal line (it sounded like he was hot about a missed blocking assignment in front of him). He sounded off on just about everybody on the sideline, and then Foster sent him to the showers. The rest of the day, it was pretty much the Soso Jamabo show with the ones.
-Devon Modster had a poor practice, which led to probably the other moment of the day. In early 11-on-11 drills, his unit had two false starts and a fumbled snap on around five plays. Jim Mora was not pleased. Then, down at the goal line a drill later, he fumbled another snap. Mora sent both him and center Josh Wariboko to the sideline to work on their snaps while the rest of the team practiced. For five minutes, Hank Fraley and Jedd Fish watched over the two as they snapped.
-The good portion of practice started with work on shedding bubble screen blocks, and there was some popping going on over there. Adarius Pickett and Jordan Lasley got very into it. In fact, Pickett carried that drill over for the next 30 minutes of practice, hitting everything and everyone, even in "thud" only drills. He had had a poor camp up until about Tuesday, but has turned it on these last few days. He recorded a couple notable pass breakups in addition to some big hits in 11-on-11s.
-Nate Starks had probably the run of practice -- which wasn't saying much, this team really hasn't demonstrated that it can run the ball at all through three weeks here -- breaking off a 42-yard touchdown in third-and-1 situations.
-Spoiler alert here: When I do my post-fall camp freshmen rankings, Darnay Holmes is going to be No. 1. I don't think he allowed a single catch in any drill today. And in 1-on-1s, he had two interceptions. When Christian Pabico is on him, like he was today, you don't hear from the walk-on, which has been rare through three weeks of camp so far.
-Jaylan Shaw was also a standout in 1-on-1s, recording a pick and then another nice pass breakup. Holmes, Osling and Shaw, along with Jaelan Phillips, look like the jewels of this incoming class right now.
-Alex Van Dyke had a pair of drops in 1-on-1s. But to his credit, he came back and had a productive 11-on-11 practice.
-Mossi Johnson continues to show up in every drill, despite being buried by an avalanche of defensive backs on this roster. I had him with a few big hits, a tackle for loss that would have ended Matt Lynch's fourth-and-1 efforts, and a pass breakup in 1-on-1s. He's just a good football player.
-Jaleel Wadood recorded an interception off a really bad Modster throw late in 11-on-11s. It's been a stellar camp for just about every DB in the two-deep.
-Darren Andrews had several nice catches over the middle of the field in 11-on-11s. He also had a nice back-shoulder catch in 1-on-1s.
-Theo Howard had probably the play of practice. Running a go route on Nate Meadors, he tracked a deep ball over his shoulder to haul in the Modster throw down the sideline. His teammates were very pleased with the effort.
-UCLA trotted out its formation where Keisean Lucier-South runs as a linebacker in the nickel once again today. He didn't do much, however, when that formation was called.
-Damian Alloway and Jordan Lasley worked as punt returners today. Stefan Flintoft and Austin Kent both finally had good days, booting their two kicks apiece between 50-55 yards with good hangtime.
-Audie Omotosho had a bounce-back practice. He was wearing a different, lighter knee brace today, and that seemed to free him up. He did well against younger corners in 1-on-1s and had a few catches in 11-on-11s as well.
-Stephan Zabie had a welcome to the Pac-12 practice. In 1-on-1s, a walk-on pancaked him for a sack. He had several penalties called on him in 11-on-11s as well.
-JJ Molson had a rougher day kicking the football. I had him at 3-for-6 with makes from 32, 35 and 53 and misses from 39, 53 and 53.
-Jaelan Phillips ended the first-team vs. first-team 11-on-11s with a gorgeous fake inside, go outside move on Kolton Miller to record the would-be sack on Josh Rosen. Phillips has been quiet since his hot first week, but it's pass-rush moves like that that let you know he's going to be a good one for UCLA this year.
UCLA practices next on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. and wraps up the open portion of camp at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday night.
